I work as male cna/tech and I have been harassed/bullied by a nurse at my work. It all started when I asked her when a resident was going to get her acu check and insulin before she went to sleep, this was at 23:00 and they are to be done @ 20:00. I was told to go mind my own business, I wrote up a grievance on the residents behalf and other residents cause they have not received their evening med pass as well their acu checks and insulin. Mind you this is at 23:00 and they are to be done after the evening meal or there after. One resident came out and demanded his pills so he can go to sleep at 23:30. There was no emergency or anything unusual going on to delay any of this. This nurse is very unorganized. It doesn't matter but this nurse is an RN.. But the next week after I reported this to my DON and SS it's been hell. I don't know if she knows that I wrote the grievance for the residents or not but she has been up my ass ever since, over nothing. She has yelled at me in front of residents, staff, and residents family members. She is even mean to residents, scolding a resident for eating a Cheeseburger that her family brought her and not going to eating in the dinning room. (No dietary restrictions) I passed this nurse coming out of this residents room and I looked and seen the resident crying. I asked her what happened she told me with tears running down her cheek. She has lied to other nurses about me, threatening to write me up etc. I have gone to my DON, ADON etc several times. Nothing absolutely nothing. I have witnesses staff and residents to her abuse towards me. What do I do? I think they aren't doing anything cause they are short of RN's. If I came out of a residents room and the resident was crying and a nurse had seen that I would be fired for verbal resident abuse. Period!! I have worked there for several years this nurse has been there less than 6 mo. I want to quit but I can't I want to report to Corporate but I am afraid I am going to loose my job, being treated differently, won't get my vacation time etc. Other Nurses also have major problems with this nurse as well. But not like what they seen me go through. I Have never worked with anyone like this before I have been in nursing for 20+ years. What do I do? Thanks
Keep written records and make all complaints in writing. They will get the message when they see you are keeping a paper trail. Prepare to lose your job. I would look for another job so you can leave before they get rid of you. It seems that you will go before the lazy nurse. Sorry this is happening. Too bad you have not become a nurse yourself.
U are right about that - be prepared to lose the job - unfortunately this happens more often that not. Have a friend who was in the same position. The lazy one, or abusive person in that situation also kept their job for quite a while.
Honestly, you do seem to have over stepped your bounds a bit. I wouldn't have reacted the way this nurse did, but I would be irritated if a CNA approached me complaining about medications being given late. You may not think there is "anything unusual" going on, but it's not your place to prioritize for this nurse (or any nurse).
And since you obviously have a personal problem with this nurse, your reports of resident "abuse" may seem exaggerated to management. The cheeseburger story actually comes across as a little bit ridiculous to me. We know what the resident told you about the horrible "scolding" she was given, but the interation wasn't witnessed, and the residents perception could have been distorted for a variety of reasons.
I don't think it's ever appropriate to yell at co-workers, but I think it's possible that you did need to be told to MYOB.
"And since you obviously have a personal problem with this nurse, your reports of resident "abuse" may seem exaggerated to management. The cheeseburger story actually comes across as a little bit ridiculous to me. We know what the resident told you about the horrible "scolding" she was given, but the interation wasn't witnessed, and the residents perception could have been distorted for a variety of reasons. "
If a Resident is crying and says it was because a nurse yelled at her ..... That is an abuse as perceived by the resident and an INVESTIGATION must be done!!! If the resident asked the CNA Where their medication was, THAT CNA has EVERY RIGHT TO tell the nurse. IF the nurse was informed by CNA and it was not completed in a timely manner. THAT IS CAUSE FOR INVESTIGATION of ABUSE!!
After 16 years of LTC if the wind blows the wrong way and someone says something about it AN INVESTIGATION of ABUSE MUST BE DONE!!! PS and the CNA in LTC knows more about what goes on with the residents than the nurse IF THEY are good at thier job. The nurse is only as good as her CNA's and communication with them!!
First when a residents safety is at risk I don't think I am Over stepping my bounds, when I walk into a room and see a resident crying after being scolded for eating a cheeseburger for not going down to the dinning room to eat. Is abuse PERIOD!!! I didn't witness but resident wouldn't make up a story like that. She's a respected member of the community. The resident was there for rehab. Very well with it mentally. Second this nurse was suspended for yelling at a resident and was witnessed by another residents family member. As for the acu check and insulin I was relaying the message from a resident if she were a brittle diabetic who knows what could of happened, and as far as meds are concerned several resident had expressed anger and one even came out his room to tell her to give him his pills so he can go to sleep. Oh did I forget to mention leaving pills on bed side tables, one resident didn't even know they were there I just noticed them when I was moving the table close to the bed. Or how bout leaving narcs in a medicine cup sitting on the nurses station another nurse was there when I found them sitting there. As for me having it out for this nurse I don't we used to be friends when she first started, but as time rolled on. She would never stop talking, always on her phone, then she started putting patients at risk. Fighting with other nurses not just me, yea I put her in her place. But only after months of abuse. Just cause I am tech doesn't mean I am going to stand by and watch abuse and neglect by any nurse. I am prepared to loose my job, but not before I do what some of the suggestions I got on here. Reporting to medicare, BON, Corporate, Department of labor all of them. Do I have witnesses you bet I do I have a list residents and staff. Documentation as well!!! If do I loose my Job guess who's going to be on the news for protecting residents rights from abuse and neglect.
So we went from no one doing anything to the nurse being suspended for yelling at a resident in front of their family? And you used to be friends with this nurse, but had a falling out and now realize that everything she does is wrong and abusive?
I will watch for your heroic, cheeseburger/gave meds late/"I put her in her place" story on CNN.
"And since you obviously have a personal problem with this nurse, your reports of resident "abuse" may seem exaggerated to management. The cheeseburger story actually comes across as a little bit ridiculous to me. We know what the resident told you about the horrible "scolding" she was given, but the interation wasn't witnessed, and the residents perception could have been distorted for a variety of reasons. "
If a Resident is crying and says it was because a nurse yelled at her ..... That is an abuse as perceived by the resident and an INVESTIGATION must be done!!! If the resident asked the CNA Where their medication was, THAT CNA has EVERY RIGHT TO tell the nurse. IF the nurse was informed by CNA and it was not completed in a timely manner. THAT IS CAUSE FOR INVESTIGATION of ABUSE!!
After 16 years of LTC if the wind blows the wrong way and someone says something about it AN INVESTIGATION of ABUSE MUST BE DONE!!! PS and the CNA in LTC knows more about what goes on with the residents than the nurse IF THEY are good at thier job. The nurse is only as good as her CNA's and communication with them!!
I agree that all abuse complaints should be investigated. However, it's not up to the reporter to construct a scaffold and go grab a sharpened ax.
And I would expect a CNA to report a resident's concerns about receiving medication on time. However, it is not a CNA's place to judge that the delay was unjustified.
Yea I was hoping that rope around her neck was working when she was sent home for possible abuse. But the noose wasn't tight enough when she slipped out of it and came back to work a few days later. I am not the only one with a problem with her, every nurse she works with wants to be the Hangman.
The resident has the right to be treated with consideration, respect and full recognition of dignity and individuality. To be free from physical or mental abuse, corporal punishment, involuntary seclusion. Remember it's about our patients our residents, some are in it for the pay, some cause it's a job, for me it's cause I love what I do. I know more about my residents than most people. I listen when they talk, I sit and talk to them, know their families by name. I have sat and held someone's hand while they passed on, so they didn't die alone. Been to more funerals than I can count. I have in nursing more than 20 years and for this one bad nurse I have never had any problem with a nurse. We (cna/tech) know if something is wrong with residents/patients, cause we are spend more time with them. Some of us do anyways. Remember why you wanted to be a nurse? Was it for the pay, was it to help people or was it cause you know you can make a difference. Remember we work for them, we are in their home. Just think how you would want your Grand Parents to treated, then treat the residents the same way you would treat your own.
Ever heard the saying if you don't report it, you're just as guilty as the abuser. Report it to whomever you have to to get something done. You would want it reportd if it was your family member.
In your opinion this nurse is both negligent in her care and directly abusive to patients. You have documented your concerns and reported them.
The truth is that that should now be the end of your involvement. Your focus needs to return to your role and your patients care.
Clearly if you see anything else then you document and report. We have systems in place to ensure that concerns are investigated and acted on and you only have your part of the picture. Its up to the managers to look at the whole story and you need to place a degree of trust in that.
There is a very real danger that professional concerns can turn into a personal vendetta - be very cautious.
I hate it when nurses misuse the control they have and there is never any excuse for cruelty or poor care but I would very gently remind you that your responsibility is to report, continue to protect your patients but not to act as judge and jury.
PS and the CNA in LTC knows more about what goes on with the residents than the nurse IF THEY are good at thier job. The nurse is only as good as her CNA's and communication with them!!
sissiesmama, ASN, RN
1,899 Posts
U are right about that - be prepared to lose the job - unfortunately this happens more often that not. Have a friend who was in the same position. The lazy one, or abusive person in that situation also kept their job for quite a while.
Anne, RNC